For laboratory and educational research use only. Not medical advice.
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Longevitypreclinical

Humanin

HN
Longevity
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Category
Longevity
Evidence grade
D
PubMed records
532
Female-tagged
88
Sex-analysis
0
CAS
—
D
Evidence grade D, Preclinical / animal evidence only across 532 indexed studies. No human trial data. How grades work →
Female evidence: None
Humanin: of 532 PubMed records, 88 are tagged as including female subjects and 0 carry a sex-analysis tag.Counts reflect PubMed records as of 2026-07-21. “Female” uses the Female MeSH filter and “sex-analysis” the Sex Factors MeSH filter, automated proxies pending manual study-level review. Methodology →

Overview

Humanin is a small mitochondrial-derived peptide, meaning it is encoded within mitochondrial DNA rather than the nuclear genome. This unusual origin has made it a compound of particular interest as a tool for studying signaling that arises from the mitochondria themselves.

In preclinical and in-vitro systems, humanin has been studied for cytoprotective signaling and for metabolic pathways relevant to cellular aging. Researchers investigating mitochondrial biology and stress responses have used it as a research material to probe how mitochondrial-derived peptides participate in cellular signaling.

What makes humanin a notable entry for a longevity catalog is its place within the emerging class of mitochondrial-derived peptides, a category that has reframed how investigators think about the mitochondrion as a signaling source. Whether these mechanisms translate to female physiology remains an open research question; our evidence review tracks how many of the underlying studies included women. Supplied for laboratory research use only.

Summary

Humanin is a mitochondrial-derived peptide studied for cytoprotective and metabolic roles in aging. The evidence is preclinical and observational (circulating levels in humans); there are no controlled therapeutic trials and no female-specific outcome data.

Evidence in women

Menstrual cycle
Unstudied
No studies examine menstrual cycle interactions.
Pregnancy & lactation
Unstudied
No pregnancy or lactation safety data exist.
Hormonal interactions
Unstudied
No controlled data on reproductive- or thyroid-hormone interactions.
Perimenopause & menopause
Unstudied
Circulating humanin declines with age, but no menopause-specific intervention data exist.
Sex differences
Unstudied
Observational studies measure humanin in both sexes, but no controlled study evaluates a sex difference in response to administered humanin.

Mechanism

A small mitochondrial-genome-encoded peptide proposed to protect cells from apoptosis and modulate metabolic and inflammatory signaling.

Reported dosing & routes

◐

We don't give dosing or medical advice. The figures below describe what was used in published research, not a recommendation. Decide with your clinician.

Reported range (literature)No established human dose; effects shown in cell and animal models.
Routessubcutaneous, intraperitoneal
Female-specific dosingNot established

Contraindications: insufficient data to characterize

Side effects

Reported in the research literature. Sex-specific incidence has not been separately analysed in the available records.

insufficient human data to characterize

Humanin reconstitution calculator

Enter this vial's amount, the bacteriostatic water you add, and a target amount to get the concentration and the U-100 syringe units to draw. Handling arithmetic for research use, not a dose recommendation.

Reconstitution

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Draw for Humanin

5
units on a U-100 insulin syringe
020406080100
U-100 insulin syringe — 1 mL = 100 units
That's 0.05 mL drawn to the 5-unit mark.
Concentration5 mg/mL (5,000 mcg/mL)
Volume to draw0.05 mL
Doses per vial40

Reference chart at 5 mg/mL

Target amountVolume (mL)U-100 units
100 mcg0.02 mL2
250 mcg0.05 mL5
500 mcg0.1 mL10
750 mcg0.15 mL15
1000 mcg0.2 mL20

Research-use arithmetic only. This tool converts a vial amount, diluent volume, and a target amount into a concentration and syringe draw for laboratory handling. It is not dosing guidance, a recommendation, or a claim of safety or efficacy, and it does not account for overfill, dead space, or peptide purity. Nothing here is medical advice. “U-100” means 100 units = 1 mL; confirm your syringe graduation before measuring. See the reconstitution & storage handbook for handling detail.

Frequently asked questions

Answers drawn only from Humanin's research facts and, where reviewed, its sex-disaggregated evidence. Nothing here is medical advice, dosing, or a claim of safety or efficacy.

What is Humanin?

Humanin, also known as HN, is a research compound in our longevity category. Humanin is a mitochondrial-derived peptide studied for cytoprotective and metabolic roles in aging.

Is Humanin studied in women?

Humanin: of 532 PubMed records, 88 are tagged as including female subjects and 0 carry a sex-analysis tag. We grade this none: no PubMed record for Humanin is tagged as including female subjects, so its effects in women are effectively unstudied. That blank is the finding, not a safety signal, and we do not fill it with guesses.

Has Humanin been studied during pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Unstudied. No pregnancy or lactation safety data exist. This is not a safety clearance or a recommendation. Vera, our research chat, deliberately hard-stops on pregnancy, breastfeeding, and trying-to-conceive questions rather than answer them.

What evidence grade does Humanin have, and why?

Humanin carries evidence grade D. Preclinical / animal evidence only across 532 indexed studies. No human trial data.. Grades are derived from the research record, never hand-assigned; see how grades work.

Is there a female-specific dose for Humanin?

No. A female-specific dose for Humanin is not established, and this site does not provide dosing or medical advice. Any figures we show describe what published research used, not a recommendation. Decide anything about use with a qualified clinician.

How is Humanin administered in research?

In the published literature, Humanin is administered via subcutaneous, intraperitoneal. Reported dose ranges on the Dosing tab describe what studies used for laboratory research, not a protocol for people. We don't provide dosing.

What side effects have been reported for Humanin?

Effects reported in the research literature include insufficient human data to characterize. Sex-specific incidence has not been separately analysed in the available records, so these are not broken out for women.

How should Humanin be stored and handled?

Humanin sold for research is supplied as a lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder. Lyophilized peptides are generally kept cold and dry, at roughly -20°C for longer-term storage and 2-8°C short-term, protected from light. Once reconstituted they are typically refrigerated and used within a short window, avoiding repeated freeze-thaw cycles. This is general laboratory handling for research use only, not a directive for human use. Always follow the handling and purity details on the product's Certificate of Analysis.

Where can I buy Humanin for research?

Humanin is not currently listed by our research-use partner, Aurevena Research, but their catalog carries related compounds. Code research15 applies 15% off. We may earn a commission when you purchase through this link, at no extra cost to you. Products are for laboratory research use only.

Browse the Aurevena catalog
Research-use supplier: Humanin isn't currently listed by our research-use vendor. Their catalog carries related compounds. Code research15 for 15% off, applied automatically at checkout. We may earn a commission when you purchase through this link, at no extra cost to you. Products are for laboratory research use only.
Browse the catalog →

Citations (PMID)

37106758 · 36642986

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Educational information for laboratory and research use only. Not medical advice, a recommendation, or a claim of safety or efficacy; no personal dosing. “Unstudied” means no qualifying study was found, not that a compound is safe or unsafe.